New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-05-29
SAFETY OF NEW YORK THEATRES.
TALKS WITH MIR. D'OENCH AND CHIEF SHAY.
MOST OF THEM IN FAIRLY GOOD coNDIT1oN-NoNE
ABSOLUTELY FIREPRoOF.


ABSOLUTELY FIREPRoOF.
The fatal fire in the Paris Opera Comique naturally
calls public attention to the question OF the saety OF
audiences in New-York, where nightly upward
Of fifty theatres OF various grades arc
more or less we'll filled. 1hree years
MOO about the time when the Legislature took the mat
ter M Superintendent DOench OF the Building Bureau
NJ the Fire Department made personal examination OF
all the theatres in the city, and notices to the atera
tons found be necessary sent to all the propre
tors and were, with or two exceptions, compiled
with
Superintendent D'Oench said to TRIBUNE reporter
Yesterday: THE of the law OF Ss5 is that only
refers 10 new theatres and cannot enforce 1t In the
case of those erected prior TO it I have been all
over every theatre in the city Of New-fork, ana
have issued orders for everything which the la"
gives me the right to issue orders about In many IN
stances these been complied WITH and such Things
as Prevails and fre-escapes provided All SORTS OF
things which the nature OF the buildings ana
their surroundings will permit OF have
been done to provide against accidents. We cannot
provide against people losing their heads however and
as long long skirts to trip up those VINO
NV instructions to my friends when they go to theatre
are: Take only parquet and aisle sea seat
Fireproof curtains advantage but the trouble
is there very few in use The Standard iheare las
What is the safest theatre in the cityr = a..
think the Mer0Pa9 opera o atu'0 of the
Construction constr is in iron and stone There E
exits and very large 06Sy S aeG
feel more there than in any other theatre IN inc
city There is only one thing object they store 700
n NiSips Garden, which is otherwise very good
theatre they will not put up brick rewal, though
tSe Thalia and indeed think about all OF them except
Nibo's have got the brick wall. The Grand
0Psr" last House ssmme PUT Hardly think there
fheat he
almost all private affairs and for their own protection
epces and companies The Windsor has been built since
1885 but the plans were nied Deiore .ne c
signed the bill This theatre however, has many ehce
MY opinion Of theatre is that It should be built
absolutely dreproOf have been working under Difficult
ties in the OF public safety for two years or more
as the law is very defective. II is complicated and
worded in such curious way that 1t is not easy 10 en-
Chief Shay was his Office at the old Fire Department
Headquarters. in Mercerst, when TRIBUNE reporter
Yes" he remarked when the subject was preached.
suppose there be the usual cutlery taat follows pg
disaster and then byandby the whole thhg WI" 10 ior
8" How about the New.York theatresi" III - -
"Well, our New-York theatres are about as saie rs
theatres anywhere, considering henatera OF which tney
build brick walls between the auditorium and the stage
and put in in the roof over be ee stag
these sEylichts will open automatically and allow the
people get out il they only remain cool theatres
originally constructed IRE started on tne stage
Now the fire does TO the fronts and the audience
can by the auditorium cIts but OF course
ihongh they're on an open lot II they ohy keep their
presence OF mind don't think there is theatre In new
York but what be emptied In time for every person
"But surprising a fire breaks out in the auditorium"
"1hat different question altogether A ire break
ing out In the auditorium OF theatre wonld be more
like fire In any ordinary building The only ths from
apparatus possibly some such accident or careless
less as lighted match being DROPPED
not spread nearly 50 quickly as on the stage
going to 6GG place 70 sci a haze 50 6 as SSeT
the stage OF theatre. 1t is filed with light inanmaoe
there to give plenty OF air-as give ire rapid hold
"some OF the theatres have fire proof curtains which
because they h up the space in the brick wall eft for
the proscenum II you could shut up the e., stage her
rum at all But a great many OF tho man
Of these dividing brick walls have doors through them
and many OF the employees heedessy leave these doors
We detail men TO every theatre In the city. These
the stage constantly THIS OF course IS great
theatres and have keep these men on duty at all
of them at the expense OF the city Tho theatres don't
panes. II great drain on the department; but
we do 1t OF regard for the safety OF the public
out up tho flies. So far understand that was thc
case in the Opera com9ue whont a. DlGx dIy dHS
the oof OF the auditorium and blow right down. That
cannot occur IN most Sew-fork theatres thlnk II
curtains" $500 -
!; "Whst is your notion Of an ideal theatre buildngT
In the first place 1t should be heproof VIII nothing
iniammable IN It,"
Would il be possible to get all the fittings TO answer
that description -
"why, certainly 1t would. 1t would be
very expensive, but 10 could be done.
Again, a theatre should have all the
exits possble 1t should be the second floor OF
a building and should be in the rear or in the
heart OF a block IL should be much isolated from
other property possible. The Building Bureau Of the
Fire Department has made the theatres here comply
with the law OF 1885 well can be in every re-
spect, though the great majority OF them were built
prior that law Tho Windsor has been built since II
Is good building but stands In the heart Of block As
general thing there exits TO the roofs OF adjoining
buildings well the ordinary and extra exits and In
Of the theatres thee freescapes the front
facing the We have been very fortunate In
having theatre fires happen while there audi
ence IN the building"
THE CONVICTION or MRS. CIGNAR4LE